Tag: Karel Kilimnik

Eyes on the SRC: January 21, 2016

SRC 11-19-15 #2

By Karel Kilimnik

Welcome to the Sixth Edition of Eyes on the SRC.

A note to our readers: this analysis is based on what the SRC has released to date. The SRC often adds new resolutions up until the day of the meeting. We will review the list periodically and let you know of any new resolutions. In addition, rules for speaking appear to be fluid at this time. From the district website:

Revisions to current practice regarding speaker order: 

The School Reform Commission will be implementing new protocols based on two general principles. First, it is important to group speakers on the same or similar topics at Action Meetings in order to give Commissioners the ability to gain the big picture on each topic. Second, the Commission would like to encourage new voices and topics at meetings.

Beginning January 21st, 2016, the School Reform Commission (SRC) will be enacting the following changes to the order in which speakers testify at SRC Action Meetings:

  • Student speakers will continue to be prioritized and normally will speak first.
  • Other speakers will be grouped by topic, based on the order in which their topics were registered.
  • Speakers who did not speak at the previous meeting, will be allowed to speak first within their topic group, and followed by those speakers who did have the opportunity to speak at the previous meeting.
  • Speakers on resolutions will no longer be prioritized, given that all speakers have an opportunity to speak before votes are taken on resolutions. These speakers will be grouped by topic and the time at which they register along with all other speakers. [Emphasis added]

 When you call to register to speak, please ask what number your topic is. Let’s hold them to their new set of rules. Fasten your seatbelt for the ride. It may be bumpy.

Next SRC meeting: Thursday January 21, 5:30 PM. To register to speak you must call 215.400.4180 by 4:30 January 20. It’s best to identify yourself as a teacher, parent, or community member as the rules stipulate that only “one member of an organization can register to speak.”

Click here for: 

Proposed Resolutions for January 21, 2016 SRC Action Meeting

 

APPS testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission – December 17, 2015

In the order of appearance.

Click here to see all of the videos.

Click the picture to view each video individually.

Karel Kilimnik

Video of APPS member Karel Kilimnik testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – December 17, 2015.

The last part of Karel’s testimony was cut off due to the three minute time limit.

The full transcript of Karel’s testimony.

 

Robin Lowry

Video of APPS supporter Robin Lowry testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – December 17, 2015.

The full transcript of Robin’s testimony.

 

Diane Payne

Video of APPS member Diane Payne testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – December 17, 2015.

The full transcript of Diane’s testimony.

 

Barbara Dowdall

Video of APPS member Barbara Dowdall testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – December 17, 2015.

Coleman Poses

Video of APPS member Coleman Poses testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – December 17, 2015.

The full transcript of Coleman’s testimony.
The transcript includes the slides Coleman is speaking about in his SRC testimony.

 

Lisa Haver 2

Video of APPS member Lisa Haver testifying at the Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting – December 17, 2015.

The full transcript of Lisa’s testimony.

Eyes on the December 17th SRC

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by Karel Kilimnik

December 10, 2015

Welcome to the Fifth Edition of APPS’ “Eyes on the SRC”.

A cautionary note to our readers. This analysis is based on what the SRC has chosen to publish right now at this very moment. We try to keep up but sometimes it’s difficult when a Resolution pops up right before the SRC Action meeting.

It is gratifying to see more people attending SRC Action meetings and speaking. We continue to ask questions, they continue to avoid answering. It is essential for all of us to speak up. Our words travel far beyond the four walls of the auditorium. The meeting is live streamed and journalists tweet as well as write articles. We have to get our ideas into the public arena. Dr. Hite continues to refuse to sever the Source4Teachers contract. Teachers cover classes, and students do not have regularly appointed classroom teachers, while Source4Teachers continues to fail miserably at providing substitute teachers. We need to continue asking Dr. Hite to break the contract. It is unconscionable to inflict this situation on students and teachers.

The next SRC meeting is Thursday Dec. 17th at 5:30. To register to speak you must call 215 400 4180 by 4:30 on Dec. 16th. It’s best to say that you’re a teacher, parent, or community member because only “one member of an organization can register to speak” (from the District website)

Click here to see a selection of SRC Resolutions for December 17th and APPS comments. 

Eyes on the November 19th SRC

9-17-15 SRC

By Karel Kilimnik

November 14, 2015

Welcome to the Fourth Edition of APPS’ “Eyes on the SRC”. Every month, the Philadelphia School Reform Commission votes, with almost no public deliberation, on pages of resolutions that will affect the academic and financial future of the district. Our purpose here is to shine a light on a few resolutions that need to be explained in more detail. We ask questions here which should be asked of the SRC members themselves. That is one reason why we need every voice to speak out against the chaos and turmoil created by this present administration and by the School Reform Commission.

School started in September with a dire lack of substitutes, and the situation has not improved. Teachers in every school are losing valuable prep time to covering classes. Dr. Hite admits that Source4Teachers is doing poorly, yet he makes no effort to terminate their contract. He and the SRC, which voted to outsource substitutes, need to be called out on this at every opportunity.

The next SRC meeting is Thursday November 19th at 5:30. To register to speak you must call 215 400 4180 by 4:30 on Wednesday November 18th. It’s best to say that you’re a teacher, parent, or community member because only “one member of an organization can register to speak” (from the District website).

Want some help with your testimony? Contact us at philaapps@gmail.com

Click here to read the November 19 Resolutions of Note